Tokyo cops raid yakuza HQ in Ginza over extortion

TOKYO (TR) – Tokyo Metropolitan Police on Wednesday raided the headquarters of an affiliate of the Sumiyoshi-kai organized crime group on suspicion of extortion, reports TV Asahi (Oct. 28).

Investigators entered the gang’s office, located in the Ginza area of Chuo Ward, for evidence connected to alleged threats made by a gang member to a 51-year-old corporate officer regarding a loan of 30 million yen.

On Monday, police arrested Kenji Kobayashi, a 60-year-old boss in the Sumiyoshi-kai, for involvement in the case.

In April of last year, the suspect is alleged to have threatened the victim inside a coffee lounge in Minato Ward over a failure to pay nine million yen in interest and the non-return of the principal.

Kobayashi admits to the allegations, telling police that making threats is unavoidable in such cases, according to TBS News (Oct. 26) .